A recent University of Wisconsin study shows that cell phones blur lines between work and home and enable stressful communications between family members:

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Those who consistently used a mobile phone or pager throughout the study period were more likely to report negative "spillover" between work and home life — and, in turn, less satisfaction with their family life.
Spillover essentially means that the line between work and home begins to blur. Work life may invade home life — when a parent is taking job-related calls at home, for instance — or household issues may start to take up work time.

The results of this study don't seem particularly ground-breaking; cell phones, like any interruptive communications channels, should be actively managed and used sparingly and when appropriate. Of course, that's not always possible if co-workers and family members expect you to be available at all times. Does your cell phone let work spill over into home time and vice versa? Let us know in the comments or at tips at lifehacker.com.